THEY signed their first professional contracts with Celtic on the same day in 1999 and appeared destined to form the central defensive partnership in the Parkhead first team for many years to come.

But the serious knee injury that John Kennedy suffered playing for Scotland against Romania in 2004 ultimately cut short his promising playing career and denied him the chance to forge that alliance with Stephen McManus.

Kennedy and McManus, though, have been reunited at the coaching staff on the Glasgow club and will both be working together at long last to ensure the Scottish champions have a bright future.

Kennedy has been a scout and first team coach at Celtic under both Ronny Deila and Brendan Rodgers since being forced to retire prematurely at the age of just 26 back in 2009.

McManus, who has been working on the coaching staff at Motherwell since hanging up his boots in 2017, has now been appointed under-18 coach.

The former Parkhead captain, who won every honour in the Scottish game and played in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, is delighted to be back and working on the same team with his close friend once again.

“We both signed on the same day when we were 15,” he said. “My mum still has the photo on her mantelpiece and I’ve still got that shirt. Now we are both on the coaching staff. I’m very grateful for the career I have had in football and it’s down to the upbringing I had here at Celtic. John will be the exact same.

“You can pick so many people who have been at football clubs because they’ve worn the badge. But out of all the young players I played with John was the one who was robbed. There’s no doubt in my eyes that he would have been one of the best defenders this country has produced.

“I played with him at a young age and his mentality separated him. He’s passionate about what he does, he’s intelligent and he’s switched on. He’s been a big factor in this club being successful over the years.

“We will work as hard as we can. But this is not about John or I. We have had our careers. That’s come and gone and now the next step is to help produce young players to be a big part in the manager’s first team and winning as many trophies as they possibly can at this point.

“I’ve not spoke to John at length yet as I’ve been very busy getting my feet under the table and getting to grips with how things are done. But we will speak. I will speak to as many people as I can for advice and help. I’m not embarrassed to do that because it’s the best way to improve your knowledge.

"I’ve kept in contact with a handful of teammates over the year and they are all very similar in their personalities and what they want to achieve. Football is crazy at times, you never know what’s round the corner. I never expected to be bringing in the New Year doing a press conference in charge of Celtic’s Under-18s.

"But that’s where I’m at and I will give my all to be as best as I can possibly be for this club. In football you don’t get anything handed on a plate. You need to work for it. You need to earn your stripes and I will continue to try and do that.”

Kennedy at McManus both received an excellent upbringing as kids at Celtic under some famous names that stood them both in good stead during their playing days - and now “Mick” hopes to do the same with the promising youngsters who are coming through the youth ranks at Lennoxtown.

“When I came here I was lucky to work with so many brilliant people,” he said. “Tam Burns was a massive influence on me as were Willie McStay, Kenny McDowall and Chris McCart and Tam O’Neill. Danny McGrain was involved as well and played a big part. It is no coincidence they were all so successful themselves as players and as coaches. Then the managers got involved.

“When I think of all the people I have worked with, the coaches and the managers, the ones I have got on the best with, are guys I see myself as being very similar to. They all had a work ethic, they were driven, they made sacrifices, they were dedicated to their profession. You need to be like that.”

McManus believes the success James Forrest, Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney, established first team players who all came through the youth ranks at Celtic, should inspire the players he will be working with.

“I don’t think there could be three better figures than the ones we have in the first team here. For me, Kieran, James and Callum are the beacon. I will be using them as the example to the young players. I will be saying: ‘Listen, that’s what you can achieve’.

“Thankfully enough, I have been one of those three players. I recognise how hard you have to work to get there. Every day I will try to make the young players, along with all of the excellent coaches I will be working, an opportunity to play in the first team.”

“Kieran, Callum and James have all been at the club since they were eight or nine years old so whoever coached them at that age can take as much joy, satisfaction and credit from watching them as anyone else.

“The fact is that every single coach they’ve had along the way will have played a part in their success and that’s what special about this club – you must be appreciative of the role everyone plays.”

“Young players will get their opportunity anywhere as long as they work hard enough, they’re good enough and they prepare for that moment. I want to be the best I can possibly be for this club and produce players.”